In Japan there is an ancient legend that speaks of demonic creatures that attack people during the night, devouring them.
Koyoharu Gotoge's work, Kimetsu no Yaiba ( Guardians of the Night ), whose publication began in 2016, uses this legend as a source of inspiration and presents us with a supernatural world set in the 20th century, during the Taisho era (the period in which the emperor of the same name ruled).
The story takes us to a dark Japan, dominated by the fear of being devoured by these demons. In response, various heroes rise up to fight against them and defeat them, trying to restore hope to humanity.
(Image of the Kamado Brother and Sister Precious Gem Figure )
The plot follows Tanjiro Kamado, who becomes a demon hunter after his family is massacred by these creatures. His sister, Nezuko, is the only survivor, but she was injured and contaminated with the blood of a demon, which threatens to completely transform her into one of them.
Tanjiro then joins a demon hunter organization that operates outside the rules and protection of the government. With this purpose, he begins his training to avenge his family and search for a cure for Nezuko, whom he wishes to protect above all else.
From there, an adventure full of action and danger begins, accompanied by a wide cast of diverse and unique characters, each with their own story, depth and characteristics that have won over fans around the world.
About hunters and demons
In this world, both hunters and demons possess iconic weapons, which has given rise to numerous replicas and a wide variety of merchandise related to them as well as to the characters.
Hunter weapons are specially designed to destroy demons and feature unique characteristics that suit each wielder. These Nichirin swords take on a distinctive color when wielded by their owner, and said color reflects the wielder's technique, personality, and character. For example, the protagonist's sword is black, an extremely rare occurrence among Hunters.
( Funko Pop image, Tanjiro vs Rui )
Both groups have elites made up of the most powerful and deserving individuals:
- The 9 Pillars (Hashira): They are the strongest demon hunters, dedicated to protecting humanity. This group, led by Kagaya Ubuyashiki, requires its members to have defeated at least 50 demons or one of the members of the 12 Demonic Moons. As a curiosity, Tanjiro's teacher, Urokodaki, was one of these Pillars.
- The 12 Demonic Moons (12 Kizuki): They are demons who serve under the command of Muzan Kibutsuji and bear a distinctive mark on one of their eyes. This group is divided into the Lower Moons, which groups the six weakest, and the Upper Moons, which includes the six most powerful.
The demons of Kimetsu no Yaiba
The legend of the “night demons” may evoke the well-known vampires, and it is perhaps no coincidence that there are several similarities between these creatures and the demons presented to us in Kimetsu no Yaiba .
Its origin
Except for Muzan, who was born as a result of a medicine created from the Blue Spider Lily, most Demons are humans who have been transformed by being contaminated with the blood of other powerful Demons. This process, while effective in some cases, is not always successful, as not all humans manage to survive the transformation.
Features and weaknesses
Humans turned into demons lose all their memories as such, being dominated by a primitive instinct that drives them to feed on human flesh and blood. This conversion grants them supernatural abilities and a longevity close to immortality.
Despite maintaining a human appearance, they usually have pale skin and feline eyes, accompanied by distinctive features such as horns or pointed ears.
As they consume humans, their power and intellect increase, making them more cunning and dangerous. Many of them even hide among humans, using their appearance to go unnoticed and avoid being hunted.
Although extremely strong, demons have specific weaknesses that they share, these being: Sunlight , which can be fatal to them; the scent of wisteria flowers ; and Nichirin weapons: the swords of hunters, forged specifically to eliminate them.
Finally, demons are linked to the progenitor Muzan Kibutsuji, who has the ability to read their thoughts, see through their eyes, locate them, and, if he deems it necessary, kill them from a distance. However, this connection can be broken if a demon has a strong enough will to resist his control.
At least for most fans of vampire stories, many of these characteristics of the demons in Kimetsu no Yaiba will be familiar, right? Still, this does not affect the depth of the plot or the complexity with which this fascinating world has been built. Rather, these similarities add an interesting twist to the way they are presented, which, along with their originality, have managed to captivate fans around the world.
